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"She makes me feel like I'm not just another patient!"

Even though Marie Carr, MSN, RN, is a new graduate nurse, when she walked into the room of a struggling patient, she wasn't deterred — she knew just what to do in the tense situation.

Now, Carr is being honored for her calm, gentle presence. UVA Health University Medical Center Director of Nursing Business Operations Kathryn King Perkinson, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CEN, and Nursing Professional Governance Organization (NPGO) DAISY Award Committee Chair Caitlin Lowman, BSN, RN, CCRN, surprised Carr with a DAISY Award!

Dasha Kinlaw, CNA, nominated Carr, of 5 North:

"Marie demonstrates the compassion, patience, and clinical intuition of someone far beyond her experience level. She approaches every patient with a calm, gentle presence and delivers care with a level of detail and intentionality that truly sets her apart. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure her patients feel safe, heard, and cared for.

"One moment in particular stands out capturing who Marie is as a nurse. We were caring for a postoperative trauma patient who had undergone multiple procedures and was experiencing severe anxiety, confusion, and pain. The patient was struggling to tolerate interventions, refusing assessments, and becoming increasingly agitated.

"Marie stepped into the room — and instead of rushing through her tasks — she knelt beside the patient, introduced herself again, and spoke in a soft, reassuring voice. She took the time to explain every step of what she wanted to do, giving the patient choices and asking permission at each point. Marie dimmed the lights, repositioned the bed for comfort, and gently coached the patient through breathing techniques to ease both pain and anxiety.

"Slowly the patient began to relax — something none of us had been able to achieve all shift. Marie carefully assessed surgical sites, managed pain needs, and ensured the patient was clean, comfortable, and emotionally supported. Before leaving the room, she asked the patient if there was anything they feared or didn’t understand, and she spent several minutes addressing each question in a way the patient could truly grasp. By the end of her interaction, the patient was resting calmly for the first time that day.

"Afterward, the patient told us, Marie 'makes me feel like I'm not just another patient!'

"This is the kind of nurse Marie is every single day. Her patience is limitless, her compassion is genuine, and her ability to deliver delicate, thoughtful care is extraordinary — especially for a new graduate nurse. Marie elevates our team, supports her colleagues with kindness, and exemplifies what it means to be a DAISY Award-winning nurse!

"Marie Carr is exactly the kind of nurse the DAISY Award was created to honor!"

Know a Fabulous Nurse?
"DAISY" stands for "Diseases Attacking the Immune System." The DAISY Award was established by The DAISY Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at the age of only 33 of an autoimmune disease. The Barnes Family was awestruck by the clinical skills, caring, and compassion of his nurses — so they created this national award to thank nurses everywhere.

At UVA Health University Medical Center — patients or their families, visitors, and team members may submit a DAISY Award nomination. The Nursing Professional Governance Organization (NPGO) honors up to two UVA Health University Medical Center nurses each month with a DAISY Award.